KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has refuted claims that he reached out to Bersatu’s Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid and Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman in an attempt to garner their support in Parliament.
Anwar, during his Budget 2024 winding-up speech as Finance Minister in Parliament on Thursday (Nov 2), stated that neither Kuala Kangsar nor Labuan had engaged in any negotiations with him or his ministers.
To clarify their decision to switch allegiances, Anwar encouraged Opposition MPs to question the two Bersatu MPs directly.
“If you want an explanation, ask Kuala Kangsar and Labuan. Of course, I welcome their support due to their maturity and wisdom,” Anwar stated.
Anwar was responding to a supplementary query by Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who inquired whether Opposition MPs needed to publicly pledge their support to the Prime Minister in order to receive allocations for their respective constituencies.
“This matter is important so that MPs know what they must do to get allocations,” Syed Saddiq emphasized.
Anwar explained that Opposition MPs could request constituency allocations by engaging in discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and a committee.
In addition, Anwar mentioned that similar negotiations for allocations were conducted during the tenure of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“There were negotiations, and existing parameters were taken into account. I will not waver from this stance.
“The same practice was done in previous governments, and when we do it, it is considered oppressive,” Anwar expressed.
“What law is this? This is the law of the jungle, not the Islamic law,” he added.
Although several Opposition MPs, including Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and Pengkalan Chepa MP Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary, criticized Anwar’s position, he remained steadfast in his stance.
“MPs have allowances and a salary, that is their right. The country’s right is to provide adequate allocations to the people, not MPs,” Anwar asserted.
On Thursday (Nov 2), Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin announced that Bersatu would take disciplinary action against the two MPs who switched their allegiance to Anwar.
On October 12, Iskandar stated his support for Anwar’s leadership despite being a Perikatan Nasional MP.
Suhaili followed suit on October 30.
Despite their new allegiances, Iskandar and Suhaili remained Perikatan MPs due to the anti-hopping laws, which penalize elected representatives for party-switching.
